DRUG-RELATED admissions to Ireland's psychiatric hospitals have more than doubled since 1990, according to a new report on psychiatric services.

While approximately 105 patients were admitted to psychiatric hospitals with drug-related disorders 16 years ago, this had increased to more than 294 in 2001. The stabilisation of admissions since has been credited to an increase in the community services that treat drug addiction.

"It's simply mirroring what's going on in the community," said Dermot Walsh, one of the authors of Activities of Irish Psychiatric Services 2004, published by the Health Research Board. "There's been an increase in illegal drug use."

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